Tag: selfless

Love is difficult to understand. We feel it, we see it, and we even dream about it. Love doesn’t always have to be the kind we see in movies. Love…

Love is difficult to understand. We feel it, we see it, and we even dream about it.

Love doesn’t always have to be the kind we see in movies. Love can be as simple as extending it to your friends and the people around you. Loving others well is something I think we can all get a little better at!

Worldly love is no match against godly love. The Bible talks about this perfect love that God gives to us, and tells us how we too can show this kind of love to other people. The world could always use a little more love, don’t you think?

Love without fear.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18

If we let fear be a boundary, then we’ll never be able to give ourselves fully to others. Love can oftentimes come with pain, sadness, and regret, but if we focus on the “what ifs” then fear will always consume us.

Love selflessly.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

Selflessness is a learned trait. Our natural instinct is to put ourselves first, but it takes a conscious effort to care for the needs of others before our own. When we love without the thought of getting something in return, people take notice. It’s a quality that people forget about, but it multiplies beyond measure.

Love your enemies.

“’But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…’” – Luke 6:27

Real strength comes from loving those who are hard to love. It’s easy to show love and kindness to your friends or family, but when’s the last time you extended it to someone that has done wrong to you in the past?

Forgiveness is a hard concept. How do we forgive someone who maybe doesn’t deserve it? It’s hard to show forgiveness and mercy in times that we least want to, but we have to remember who God is and what he’s done for us. His grace and mercy covers all our sins when we especially don’t deserve it, so we should have the same mindset toward others!

Love sincerely.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:9-10

It’s important to be real, open, honest, and genuine toward others. This builds trust between two people and makes a relationship that much stronger. Learn to love others with a genuine heart, and people will feel the love of God through you!

Make a conscious effort of loving people just as the way God loves us. Once again, the world could always use a little more love!

When it comes to relationships, God knows how to do them perfectly. He lays out different tips and advice in the Bible that assure us godly, happy relationships. When we…

When it comes to relationships, God knows how to do them perfectly. He lays out different tips and advice in the Bible that assure us godly, happy relationships.

When we look deeper into the Bible, it tells us what we should and what we shouldn’t be looking for in a relationship. There are several so-called “red flags” that we can take from certain verses in the Bible. They can help us know if we’re in the relationship God wants us to be in!

Impatience

Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Patience is something that every relationship needs to have in order to work. Whether that be showing patience toward the other person or having patience for the future, every relationship needs a firm foundation of patience. Patience is the glue that holds things together. In tense situations or waiting moments, without patience, there would be nothing to keep you sane.

Selfishness

1 John 3:16-18 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters… Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

In every relationship, whether it be boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, or friend to friend, we should be making a conscious effort to put others before ourselves. When someone is only looking out for themselves all the time, they aren’t ready to commit themselves to someone else in a relationship. Relationships require sacrifice, even if it means giving up your own needs and wants in order to put the other person first.

Fear/Worry

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Having constant worry or anxiety in your relationship is one of the biggest red flags there could possibly be. This is God speaking to you and telling you that you maybe shouldn’t be dating the person that you are. The Bible says it itself: “There is no fear in love.” If you have a constant pit in your stomach or a reoccurring feeling of worry, take a step back and look at your relationship.

Jealousy

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

As humans, jealousy is a feeling that we’ve all experienced from time to time. It becomes a red flag when it starts taking over your relationship. It’s a feeling no one likes to experience, and when you’re constantly getting jealous over even the little things, maybe that relationship isn’t the one for you.

If you’re seeing signs of these red flags within your relationship, maybe God is trying to tell you something. Sit and talk with him and ask him for guidance. He always wants the best for us, we just have to let him work in our lives!

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Or seeking first great things for the kingdom of God? These two questions are questions you should be asking yourself daily. Is what…

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Or seeking first great things for the kingdom of God?

These two questions are questions you should be asking yourself daily. Is what you’re doing primarily benefitting yourself or others?

In our society, people are quick to put themselves first. We love our image, our reputation, our own needs and wants. It’s easy to first take care of ourselves, then worry about those around us later.

Our generation is all about ourselves. We love the Instagram likes, the Twitter retweets, and the YouTube views. We’re concerned about our status and what others think of us. It’s a vicious cycle that doesn’t end until we force it to.

Not only does it benefit us in the long run, but God calls for us to have a selfless heart.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Looking to the interest of others before your own is the definition of selflessness. When we practice this, it becomes easier and more natural. It’s the most rewarding and humbling thing!

Romans 15:2,5 says, “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up… May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

Selflessness can come in two forms. One of which is wanting to put others first without hopes of benefitting from it yourself. The second form is helping others to gain something from it and wanting to do so for your own benefit.

This is what Romans 15 is talking about. We need to please our neighbors for their own good, not for selfish gain. Although it can be hard to tell between the two, you can ask yourself what your true motives are.

Are you prioritizing someone else’s needs in order to feel better or to look good to those around you? When was the last time you lent a helping hand to a friend without them knowing? Or when was the last time you helped a stranger without posting about it on social media or telling anyone about it?

I challenge you this: show kindness and love to someone you normally wouldn’t… and to someone you normally would, too! Do it out of your own knowledge and desire without telling the world about it.

Once I started acting out of selflessness and putting others before myself, I gained more than I could’ve imagined.

You may lose money, time, or something else when you extend a hand to someone in need, but you gain so much more.

Live selflessly like Jesus and become more like him in every way possible!

Stress is no good. It isn’t good for your body, it isn’t good for your emotions, and it sure isn’t pleasant for the people around you either! When you are…

Stress is no good. It isn’t good for your body, it isn’t good for your emotions, and it sure isn’t pleasant for the people around you either! When you are stressed, your quality of life is not high and you just aren’t a happy camper! Here is how to stress less so that you can be a happier, healthier you!

Dance it out. Feeling stressed? Blare your music and just dance.

Talk about it. Grab a girl friend, take her to Starbucks, grab a latte, and just talk to her. Spill your guts to her. It will make you feel so much better!

Take a walk. Exercising gets your endorphins pumping, which make you happier! Being happy helps lower stress. Also, I have found that exercising gives me great time to think.

Go to bed earlier! If you are sleepy, you are unhappy, which can just lead to more stress!

Hug it out. Seriously. Grab your mom, and give her a good ole bear hug.

Do something good for others. When I am serving others, it makes me so happy! I love knowing I am helping someone else and making a difference in their life.

Do any of these things help you stress less? I have so much going on in my life right now, so it really helps to be able to handle my stress in a positive way. How do YOU stress less?